Police say rage of suspect had been building

Published: Sunday, March 05, 2000

WILKINSBURG, Pa. {AP} Sitting in handcuffs, waiting to be charged with hate crimes and criminal homicide for a shooting spree, Ronald Taylor leaned over to whisper something to his attorney: He was cold.

Jim Ecker, the lawyer hired to represent Taylor on allegations he had shot five people in a rampage Wednesday, asked around in the courtroom. Did anyone have a jacket his client could wear? Those sitting nearby, all police, shook their heads.

"They don't care if I'm cold," Taylor said, brushing off only the latest insult he felt he had suffered in recent months.

In interviews with neighbors, witnesses and authorities, a picture of Taylor has emerged as a man filled with rage, but no criminal record. Police said his anger had apparently been simmering for some time.

He had complained about one thing or another since at least October, according to his landlord. Police said an argument over a broken door triggered the 39-year-old black man to go on a shooting spree that killed three people and wounded two.

Investigators said Taylor targeted only whites Wednesday, at one point telling a black woman "Not you, sister," as he waved a gun and threatened a group of women. Police said he told a black man that his gun was only for "crackers."

Taylor has been charged with criminal homicide, ethnic intimidation Pennsylvania's term for a hate crime aggravated assault, arson and causing a catastrophe.

In his apartment, police said they found writings expressing anger toward whites, Jews, Asians, Italians and law officers. One document, called "The Satan List," named several businesses, describing them as "targets," according to a police affidavit.

Ecker, who is white, said he has no reason to believe his client is racist. He said Taylor feels sorry for the victims in the shootings.